Humidity-control apparatus



H. A. BRITTAIN HUMIDITY CONTROL APPARATUS May 6, 1930;

Filed July 17, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l m vr m3 H yIl. III/ ATTO RN EY M y H. A. BRITTAIN 1,757,931

HUMIDITY CONTROL APPARATUS Filed July 1'7. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Harold J. Bribqin,

ATTORNEY Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED SFTATJES PATENT oFFwE HAROLD A. BRITTAIN, OF AKRON, OHIO,'ASSIGNOR TO THE GOODYEAR TIRE & RUBBEF.

' COMPANY, OF AKRON, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF OHIO I HUMIDITY-CONTROL APPARATUS Application filed July 17, 1925. Serial No. 44,301.

My invention relates to a fabric conditioning system and it has particular relatiomto a sulphuric acid humidifying or conditioning system adapted to bring fabric material to a desired moisture content.

One object of my invention is to provide a system which is adapted to so treat fabric samples that they are conditioned and brought to a uniform predetermined moisture content.

Another object of my invention is to provide a system wherein fabric samples are adapted to be treated with humidity modifying means, and to provide a novel arrangement and construction of apparatus for conveniently and efiiciently practising the principles of my invention.

In determining the quality of cord fabric or square-woven fabric to be used i the manufacture of goods in which tgnsile strength is of major importance, especia ly in the manufacture of automobile tires, it is desirable that the tensile strength of the fabric be uniform. In selecting the fabric material certain tests are made of the individual cords of fabric as well as strips of woven fabric. Specifications usually require certain tensile strength and weight at 6 per cent (by weight) moisture content, although application of the principles of my invention is not limited to this specific figure.

.It is well known that the tensile strength of cord fabric varies according to the moisture content of the material, experiments having been made to show that the higher the tensile strength the greater the moisture content for a given piece of material. Heretofore samples of fabric material have been tested as to tensile strength without condi tioning them and various results were obtained These results were further varied because of differences in moisture content and a correction formula was used for reconciling these various results. the calculations being made to ascertain what the tensile strength would have been for each piece of fabric if it had been reduced to a predetermined moisture content. Calculations under these conditions were tedious and inaccuracies were likely to occur. My invention contemplates a system which will obviate the disadvantages above noted, by conditioning the fabric samples so that when they are tested. the moisture content is predetermined and uniforgi, the correction formula being dispensed wit For a better understanding of my invention reference may now be had to the accompanying drawings "forming a part of this specification, of which:

Fig. 1 is .a side elevational View of the apparatus embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the tank shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tank shown in Fig. 1, parts being broken away;

i-g.' 4 is a view of a clip member, on a larger scale;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view illustrating a modification of my invention;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the tank shown in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 is a view, on a larger scale, of one of the lugs from which fabric samples are suspendbd.

In practising my invention I provide a frame or case 10 of box-like form for in closing parts ofthe apparatus. These parts consist of an air flow meter 11,- a series of connected ars 12 and a conditioning tank 13.

A current of air is supplied from a convenient V exterior source through a pipe 14.- into the air flow meter 11, which communicates with the jars by means of tube connections 15. Each of the jars 12 contains diluted sulphuric acid, indicated at 16. After the current of air passes through the sulphuric acid into the jars 12 it is led through a jar 17 containing glass-wool, whichremoves any acid mist that may be suspended in the air as it leaves the sulphuric acid jars. A tube connection 18 from the jar 17 conveys the air into the bottom of a tank 13, which is closed but is not air tight, the air escaping through the top. A constant currentof air at a given humidity, determined by the strength of the acid in the jars, is thus continuously circulated through the tank 13. Suitable metal is used for constructing the tank 13 and a cover 19 of felt or like material affords protection against atmospheric changes that might affect the condition of the air in the interior of the tank.

In the interior of the tank 13 I provide a circular frame member 20 secured to a central rod 21 restiln in a bearing 22 at the bottom of the tank, and extending beyond the top thereof. In order that the rod 21 together with the frame member 20 may be rotated, a knob 23 is keyed upon the upper end of the rod 21 and is adapted to be manually operated at the outside of the tank. 'lwo annular members 24 and 25, forming a part of the support 20, are provided (as shown by Figure'4) with wires 26 connected to the members-2at and 25, the wires 26 being arranged in pairs and each pair bein slightly spaced. A second row of wires 2 are secured to the inner annular member 25and to a disc 28 keyed to the rod 21, the arrangement of the pairs of wires being substantially the same as that described with reference to the wires 26. There is sufficient distance between the wires of each pair to suspend a spring clip 30 therebetween, as clearly indicated in'Fig. 4. Fabric cords or strips of fabric 31 are held by each clip and suspended from the wires.

I have provided a top or cover 32 for the tank 13 in order that the air in the tank may be kept more or less confined and free from influence of the outside atmosphere. Two openings 33 and 34 are provided with sliding transparent doors 35 and 36 which are normally kept closed. These openings are directly above the rows of wires and the doors 36 may be opened and the clips 30, together with the samples, lifted out of the tank when the samples have remained long enough to be thoroughly treated. A larger opening 37 having a sliding door 38 is of sufficient length to extend across both rows of wires and is opened when a new set of samples is being placed in the tank.

By rotating the support 20 by means of the knob 23 each of the clips 30 may be brought directly under the opening and removed from the tank, the openings 33 and 34 being sufiiciently small as not to materially disturb the condition of the air within the tank.

Relative humidity of the air in the tank is indicated by differences in the readings on a wet bulb thermometer 39 and a dry bulb thermometer 40 placed on the top 32 of the tank.

Referring to the modification of my invention illustrated in Fig. 5, I have arranged the air flow meter 11, jars 12 and 17 in the case or frame 1 in the same manner as shown in Fig. 1. A tank 45, similar to the tank 13, is placed upon a shelf 46 above the jars. The current of air passing through the sulphuric acid 16 into the tank is treated in the same manner as above described with reference to Fig. 1. As indicated in Fig. 6, I have provided a top 50 for the tank 45, having a plurality of holes 51 in which plugs 52 are supported. Each of the plugs 52 is provided with hooks 53 from which fabric strips or cords are adapted to be suspended and treated in the same manner as the fabric material 31 shown in Fig. 2 and above described.

Although I have illustrated only the preferred embodiments of my invention and described them in specific detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is merely illustrative and is not intended to restrict the invention unless such restrictions are embodied in the claims appended hereto.

What I claim is:

1. A system for conditioning fabric samples comprising a tank adapted to receive a current of air at substantially predetermined relative humidity, a cover for the tank, a rotatable support in the tank provided with a knob extended from the cover and means for suspending a plurality of fabric samples from the support.

2. A system for conditioning fabric samples comprising a tank adapted to receive a current of air at substantially predetermined relative humidity, a cover for the tank, a circular rotatable support in the tank provided with a knob projecting through the co er and a plurality of clips for suspending fabric strips from the support.

3. A method of bringing the moisture content of textile-samples to substantially standard condition which comprises disposing the samples in a chamber, passing a current of air over an aqueous solution of a dehydrating agent, the agent containing the requisite amount of moisture to bring the relative humidity of the air to such value as to cause the sample to have approximately six percent moisture content by weight, regardless of whether the humidity of the air was originally greater or less than that required for the standardization at six percent moisture content of the samples, and subsequently passing the air thus treated through the chamber containing the samples.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name.

HAROLD A. BRITTAIN. 

